[Jake Virtanen | #18 | RW]

Jake-Bo-Gagner would be a line I'd like to see on the powerplay, or even strength I guess. Bo and Jake's speed/shot on the rush/forecheck with Gagner's ability to make a play in the offensive zone could be a winning combination. That'd make room for the other lines to be:

Baer-Granny-Boeser 

Burm-Sutter-Dorsett

Sedins-Vanek

[Reid Boucher | LW/RW]

Boucher is going to be a Wildcard player for the Nucks this year, similar to Gagner for Columbus last year. This guy probably has the best shot on the team and, even though he'll likely be fighting for 4th line time, I'd like to see him tested on the PP.  

 

PP1: Sedin-Sedin-Boucher(replaced if not working by Erik/Baer/Virt)-Gagner-Hutton/Stetcher

PP2: Eriksson/Baer-Horvat-Boeser-Edler-Hutton/Stetcher 

 

Boucher could be a 15g+ experiment on the PP, but even if he doesn't work out I could see those two lines putting together enough goals to be at least a top 20 powerplay. 

[Brock Boeser | #6 | RW]

33 minutes ago, Pears said:

Would it be too bold of a prediction to say Boeser will score 30 goals next season?

Boeser has all the tools to be a goal machine (25+) as early as next year, but the real questions are how will he get the puck and what will his ice time be? Is he going to have to battle and do all the work solo, similar to how Horvat scores a lot, or are they going to gift him offensive zone starts with the Sedins? Declining as he is, Henrik is still our only true playmaking center and without him I don't see Boeser getting 25+. 

[[GDT] 2017 NHL Entry Draft]

If Liljegrin is there at 14 I'd love to see Tanev+ 55 or Zhukenov for 14th and Dotch or Koek. 

[Jake Virtanen | #18 | RW]

At this point, would anyone hesitate to include him in a big package to get someone like Landeskog? Even if he still has big upside down the road, I'm of the belief that his most value to us will be in the form of being a trade chip. 

[Markus Granlund | #60 | C/W]

Gaunce took granny's 4th line center spot, but I'd say Granlund has played himself into being a strong candidate for 3rd line LW in competition with Burrows and Etem. A Granlund-Sutter-Hansen line needs some looks as it could be a fast + defensively responsible third line with a good passer and two hard shots. 

[Markus Granlund | #60 | C/W]

6 hours ago, Blömqvist said:

 

Granlund and Gaunce have both got seemingy faster and stronger. I would put Burrows on that line as RW and that trio could cause a lot of turnovers on the forecheck and produce some quality chances 

 

Burrows would be better suited on the 4th than anywhere else, but that RW spot is almost 100% Dorsett's. Although with how good the bubble players are showing, anything could happen at this point... 

[Markus Granlund | #60 | C/W]

Granlund has looked fast and aggressive in the pre season so far and has solidified his spot on the 4th line imo. With the way Gaunce has been playing I think they'll move Granlund to LW and that leaves Etem or Burrows as the odd man out at this point. 

[Anton Rodin | RW/LW]

It's seeming like JB really wants JV in Utica so without adding another forward I think Rodin will be playing with Baer and Sutter. 

Sedin-Sedin-Eriksson

Baer-Sutter-Rodin

Etem-Horvat-Hansen

Burrows-Granlund-Dorsett

Gaunce

 

If Baer continues his progress and Rodin plays the way he has been in SHL then that's a pretty decent top 6 and a great top 9.

[Ben Hutton | #27 | D]

19 minutes ago, PlanB said:

Why?

They have Sedins and Eriksson for first line, but horvat/sutter/baer/rodin probably will all need pp time and baer played the point well last year. They also might prefer to keep Gud as a defensive only guy kinda like Tanev so they aren't too taxed playing all special teams. 

[Ben Hutton | #27 | D]

50 minutes ago, Hairy Kneel said:

I don't think he'll suffer the sophmore jinx . Which I think mostly applies to forwards..and our forwards can only go up next season scoring wise. I think Hutton should get more time on the pp less Edler please

Edler is great on the power play!...if the objective was to hit shinguards. I wouldn't mind seeing Gudbranson-Hutton with the Sedins for the passing of Hutton and the right shot bomb of Gudbranson. Unlikely to last long since we need to have a forward on the back end for pp time as well as Edler+Larsen, but it'd be interesting to see.